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Between Meetings
Marian Danko
53 episodes
1 week ago
In Between Meetings, Andrew Browne, co-founder of Thin Air Labs, explains how founders can use non-dilutive capital to extend runway and keep ownership. Andrew reflects on Calgary’s maturing startup ecosystem, unpacks why venture capital is a specific tool for a specific job, and shows how to build a capital stack that fits your goals. He defines non-dilutive funding, shares common founder mistakes, and explains how to balance equity, grants, tax credits, and debt to move faster with fewer tr...
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Entrepreneurship
Technology,
Business,
Investing
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All content for Between Meetings is the property of Marian Danko and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In Between Meetings, Andrew Browne, co-founder of Thin Air Labs, explains how founders can use non-dilutive capital to extend runway and keep ownership. Andrew reflects on Calgary’s maturing startup ecosystem, unpacks why venture capital is a specific tool for a specific job, and shows how to build a capital stack that fits your goals. He defines non-dilutive funding, shares common founder mistakes, and explains how to balance equity, grants, tax credits, and debt to move faster with fewer tr...
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Technology,
Business,
Investing
Episodes (20/53)
Between Meetings
Andrew Browne, Co-Founder at Thin Air Labs. The Venture Builder
In Between Meetings, Andrew Browne, co-founder of Thin Air Labs, explains how founders can use non-dilutive capital to extend runway and keep ownership. Andrew reflects on Calgary’s maturing startup ecosystem, unpacks why venture capital is a specific tool for a specific job, and shows how to build a capital stack that fits your goals. He defines non-dilutive funding, shares common founder mistakes, and explains how to balance equity, grants, tax credits, and debt to move faster with fewer tr...
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1 week ago
19 minutes

Between Meetings
Chris Edwards, Managing Partner at Tall Grass Ventures. The Ag Investor
In Between Meetings, Chris Edwards, Managing Partner at Tall Grass Ventures, shares how his background in large-scale capital projects shaped a hands-on approach to early-stage investing in ag and food tech. We talk about TGV’s values-in-action model, its pre-Series A focus, how Chris evaluates founders beyond the deck, and why longer diligence builds stronger partnerships. He also explains how a diverse LP base shapes strategy, how agtech portfolio math differs from typical VC, and why he be...
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3 weeks ago
22 minutes

Between Meetings
Victoria Bennett, Founder of The Crowdfunding Hub. The Crowdfunding Advocate
In Between Meetings, Victoria Bennett shared how a Calgary Boy Choir campaign sparked her path into crowdfunding after nearly two decades in marketing with Pampers, Tide, ENMAX, TD, and the University of Calgary. She explains what crowdfunding really is, the five main models, and where it fits alongside bootstrapping, angels, grants, and VC. Victoria busts myths about messy cap tables, shows how crowdfunding validates businesses, and highlights the power of storytelling and community in turni...
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1 month ago
32 minutes

Between Meetings
Neeraj Gupta. The Ecosystem Investor
In Between Meetings, Neeraj Gupta shared his global journey and why he believes Calgary can become the startup capital of North America. He spoke about Alberta as a validation hub, the rise of aerospace and defense, deep-tech investing, and the importance of aligning IP with business goals. Neeraj also discussed the CDL focus model, founder red flags, and why time, money, and equity are the three resources every entrepreneur must guard. Takeaways: Ecosystems need seven ingredients: data, doma...
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1 month ago
26 minutes

Between Meetings
Matt Wilson, Managing Director at Allied Venture Partners. The Angel Investor
In Between Meetings, Matt Wilson shared his path from founder to investor and the lessons that shape how he leads Allied Venture Partners today. He explained the importance of balancing empathy with objectivity, building a strong investment thesis, and why early traction matters. Matt also reflected on Calgary’s angel ecosystem, his early investments in Lyft and Pinterest, the dangers of predatory angel terms, and why “the opportunity is in the imperfection.” Takeaways: Best investors are oft...
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2 months ago
20 minutes

Between Meetings
Craig D’Cruze, COO at Inverted Ventures. The Chef-Turned Investor
In Between Meetings, Craig D’Cruze shared his path from professional chef to venture capital, beginning with his teenage stock trading. He discussed the firm’s investment thesis targeting legacy industries, how he evaluates founders, and the strengths of Calgary’s collaborative startup ecosystem. Craig also emphasized the importance of celebrating realistic $20M–$50M exits to attract more local investors and keep capital flowing into the region. Takeaways: From chef to VC — turning a love for...
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2 months ago
21 minutes

Between Meetings
Nima Najand, Sr. Director of Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary. The Hub Builder
In between meetings, Nima Najand, reflected on Calgary’s fast-changing innovation landscape. From starting as a volunteer intern after a PhD in medical genetics to launching the Life Sciences and Aerospace Innovation Hubs, Nima’s journey mirrors the ecosystem’s growth. He highlighted stronger early-stage support, a persistent gap in scaling capital and mentorship, and the qualities academic entrepreneurs need to succeed: speed, risk tolerance, and coachability. The conversation also touched o...
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3 months ago
20 minutes

Between Meetings
Clark Lai, CEO at Motiv. The Corporate Innovator
In Between Meetings, Clark Lai, CEO of Motiv, shared how his journey from self-taught programmer to entrepreneur led to founding a venture builder tackling slow corporate innovation. Motive helps companies identify opportunities, build products, and drive results through diverse teams, tailored strategies, and a focus on quick wins. Takeaways: Tech + finance skills make a strong foundation for venture building.Solving slow innovation in big orgs creates high-impact opportunities.Full-stack in...
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5 months ago
23 minutes

Between Meetings
Kimberly Rothenberg, President at Lagree YYC. The Personal Trainer
In a recent Between Meetings episode, Kimberly Rothenberg, president of Lagree YYC, shared her transition from financial services to personal training after the birth of her first daughter. She opened Lagree YYC after discovering the Lagree workout in New York, seeing it as a perfect fit for Calgary. Kimberly discussed balancing business growth with family life, staying hands-on in the studios, and ensuring high standards. She also emphasized the importance of employee retention through fair ...
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6 months ago
21 minutes

Between Meetings
Stephanie Horner, AVP, Banking at RBCx. The Capital Growth Specialist
In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I interviewed Stephanie Horner from RBCx in Calgary about her work supporting startups within the growing tech community. She explains RBCx's unique approach to assisting high-growth tech companies, the key factors that determine whether startups thrive or struggle, and the advantages of the Canadian startup landscape for early-stage founders. Takeaways: Startup success is a multifaceted outcome dependent on the founder, circumstances, and economic cli...
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7 months ago
24 minutes

Between Meetings
Ed Kang, CSO at Startups.com. The Startup Advisor
On Between Meetings, I interviewed Ed Kang, CSO of Startups.com, about his startup journey, Startups.com's unique non-dilutive model, and his passion for helping founders (especially with pitch decks via his YouTube channel). He also shared insights on AI in startups/consulting, emphasizing investor understanding and the current AI saturation. Takeaways: Startups.com: Non-dilutive accelerator supporting underserved founders & raising significant capital.Pitch Decks: Avoid mismatching inve...
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9 months ago
24 minutes

Between Meetings
David Cree. Founder of CMNGD Linens. The Growth Officer
In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Cree. Our conversation delved into his experiences leading the mission-driven venture Common Good, the challenges he faced along the way, the growth of Calgary's startup ecosystem, and his aspirations to bring innovation to city governance as a city council candidate. Takeaways: When we started COMMONGOOD, we thought we understood the problem.When someone has a mission, they put their heart into it.To run a prof...
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10 months ago
28 minutes

Between Meetings
Benjamin Reeves, SVP of Data Science & Engineering at Viewpoint. The Data Scientist
In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Benjamin Reeves, SVP of Data Science & Engineering at Viewpoint and the Founding Director of the YYC Data Society. Our conversation spanned a range of thought-provoking topics, including the current state of data science and AI development, the ethical implications of applying AI in the financial sector, and the immense potential for Calgary to establish itself as a leading hub for applied data science and artific...
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10 months ago
28 minutes

Between Meetings
Michael Grantmyre, Partner at Osler. The Tech Lawyer
In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Grantmyre, a Partner at Osler. During our conversation, we delved into various topics, including his role in the community, his passion for startups, Osler's packages designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs, and the reasons behind his move from Toronto to Calgary. Michael also shared common mistakes that startups make and offered valuable advice. Takeaways: Always be more than just a lawyer.I really view my...
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1 year ago
28 minutes

Between Meetings
Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO at Nimble Science. The PhD Founder
In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO at Nimble Science. We discussed the role of a PhD in running a startup, Sabina's unique expertise, her initial experience with startups, and why Calgary is an excellent location to start your business. Takeaways: Any startup founder who is thinking about the salary is not a true startup founder.A PhD does not necessarily make a great startup founder.Entrepreneurship has become significantly more ch...
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1 year ago
22 minutes

Between Meetings
Kevin Dahl, Director, ElevateIP at Innovate Calgary. The Community Builder
In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Dahl, Director of ElevateIP at Innovate Calgary. Our conversation dove into his professional journey, explored the early days of Calgary's innovation ecosystem, highlighted his impactful stint at Plug and Play, and delved into his current role at Innovate Calgary. Takeaways: I am always in the corner of the underdog.Fifteen years ago, innovation was just this little shiny object over to the side.Becoming a st...
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1 year ago
31 minutes

Between Meetings
Ken Xu, Partner at CMC Capital Partners. The Investor
In a recent installment of Between Meetings, I had the privilege of interviewing Ken Xu, a Partner at CMC Capital Partners. Our conversation delved into the formative years of the VC industry in China, his experiences at Gobi Partners, and the pivotal decisions that startup founders must navigate in a post-COVID world. Takeaways: Back in the early 2000s, 75% of Gobi's startups were from BeijingThe effects of COVID-19 will stick around longer than we thinkCMC Capital Partners mainly invests in...
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2 years ago
42 minutes

Between Meetings
Rachel Daydou, Partner @ EY Fabernovel. The Digital Transformation Specialist
I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Daydou, Partner at EY Fabernovel, in a recent episode of Between Meetings. We discussed various topics, including her childhood dream of visiting the Shaolin Temple, the valuable lessons she learned while running two startups, her dedication and hard work at Fabernovel, as well as the challenges that international companies encounter in China and much more. Takeaways: What kept me in China was the feeling that I was in the center of everything fascina...
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2 years ago
21 minutes

Between Meetings
Oscar Sum, Founder at Aidencare. The Dental AI Pioneer
On the latest episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Oscar Sum. He discussed his international background and shared his journey from being a dentist in the UK to founding a tech startup in China. Oscar delved into the challenges of dentistry and candidly shared the mistakes he made as a first-time entrepreneur. Takeaways: Understanding science and practical application are two different skillsI sought a challenge and chose a different path than my peers in dentistryT...
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2 years ago
28 minutes

Between Meetings
Scott Pollack, Founder & Chief Advisor, ROGUE SCOTT Executive Advisory. The CEO and Leadership Team Coach
During a recent episode of Between Meetings, I engaged in a captivating conversation with Scott Pollack, delving into his early experiences in Asia, his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, the transformative shift from being a player to a coach, and his ongoing role as a CEO and leadership team coach. Takeaways: One of the takeaways from my early career was learning how a laptop can travel. It's a mentality.I decided to transition from being a player to a coach to have a meaningful impact on ...
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2 years ago
36 minutes

Between Meetings
In Between Meetings, Andrew Browne, co-founder of Thin Air Labs, explains how founders can use non-dilutive capital to extend runway and keep ownership. Andrew reflects on Calgary’s maturing startup ecosystem, unpacks why venture capital is a specific tool for a specific job, and shows how to build a capital stack that fits your goals. He defines non-dilutive funding, shares common founder mistakes, and explains how to balance equity, grants, tax credits, and debt to move faster with fewer tr...